Shipping and storage containers

ABSTRACT

A containment system includes a vapor resistant container for a material, and a seal for the vapor resistant container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/105,181, filed Apr. 13, 2005 and entitled “SHIPPING ANDSTORAGE CONTAINERS”, the contents of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Human exposure to such biotoxins as lead, asbestos, pesticides andtobacco has been successfully reduced over the past few years. Now therisks of mercury exposure are coming to the attention of the public.Many people have been exposed to mercury through fish consumption,vaccinations and dental amalgam fillings. Potentially hazardous productsthat contain mercury such as thermometers, batteries and fluorescentlamps are a normal part of everyday life. These sources all contributeto chronic low-level exposure to a pervasive biotoxin that, like lead,pesticides or tobacco, can ruin people's health. Recent studies havelinked mercury exposure to increased risk of heart attack in men, toautism and other neurological disorders in children, and to dangerouslevels of mercury in the blood of women of childbearing age.

Mercury is unique in that in its solid form it actually has many of theproperties of a liquid, including the ability to form a vapor. Mercuryvapor can be harmful. Mercury vapor can cause effects in the central andperipheral nervous systems, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes in humans. Itis also mutagenic and affects the immune system. Acute exposure to highconcentrations of mercury vapor causes severe respiratory damage, whilechronic exposure to lower levels is primarily associated with centralnervous system damage. Chronic exposure to mercury is also associatedwith behavioral changes and alterations in peripheral nervous system.Pulmonary effects of mercury vapor inhalation include diffuseinterstitial pneumonitis with profuse fibrinous exudation. Glomerulardysfunction and proteinuria have been observed in mercury-exposedworkers. Chronic mercury exposure can cause discoloration of the corneaand lens, eyelid tremor and, rarely, disturbances of vision andextraocular muscles. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions have beenreported in individuals exposed to mercury vapor. Mercury vapor isreported to be mutagenic in humans, causing aneuploidy in lymphocytes ofexposed workers.

A recent study of exposure to broken “low-mercury” lamps by the NewJersey Department of Environment Protection entitled “Release of Mercuryfrom Broken Fluorescent Bulbs” demonstrated that elevated airbornelevels of mercury exist in the vicinity of recently broken lamps, andmost likely exceed occupational exposure limits. Because it is verylikely that discarded fluorescent bulbs will be broken duringconventional waste handling, there is a concern that occupationalexposures to workers handling waste materials may occur.

In the United States, 700 million fluorescent and othermercury-containing lamps are removed from service every year.Mercury-containing lamps were added to the Federal Universal WasteRegulations in January of 2000. Other mercury-containing products thatare regulated as hazardous waste include dental amalgam, batteries,thermostats, medical devices such thermometers and blood pressure cuffs,and electronics with switches and other mercury components. Regulationsgovern their packaging, transport and disposal. Most waste haulers andlandfills will no longer accept any type of mercury product, includinglow-mercury lamps so products containing mercury cannot be merely thrownaway. Rather, these items must be removed from the normal waste streamand recycled or returned for special handling to minimize environmentalimpact. Generators of mercury waste are increasingly concerned about thepotential long-term and short-term health risks posed by exposure tosuch materials of employees handling packages with hazardous waste. Manycarriers are reluctant to ship hazardous materials due to concerns thatsome items that contain hazardous materials are fragile and may be proneto breakage during shipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of exampleand not limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a user recycling waste, according to an example embodimentof a waste recycling process.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram giving an overview of an example embodiment ofa waste recycling system, corresponding to the waste recycling processillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows examples of products that may be shipped using thepackaging system and method as either new products or during recycling,according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for packaging, according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of the packaging methodusing the packaging system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a system for packaging, according toan example embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a system for packaging, according toan example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of the packaging methodusing the packaging system shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method 1400 that includes packagingmercury, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of a packaging methodusing the packaging system shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a system for packaging, according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of a packaging methodusing the packaging system shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a system for packaging, according toan example embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of the packaging methodusing the packaging system shown in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These drawings show, byway of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Otherembodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes can bemade without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is directed to several aspects of a convenient,safe and efficient method and system for packaging either originallymanufactured products or wastes that need to be recycled at a recyclinglocation. The originally manufactured products generally includeelements that, after expiration of the useful life of the product, aregenerally termed waste. All manufactured products are potentiallysubject to rough handling or extreme conditions during storage andshipping. Breakage, in some instances, could result in exposure to aharmful element or component that is part of the originally manufacturedproduct. The packaging system and method discussed herein is useful bothin recycling spent products as well as original shipping containers. Setforth below is one embodiment of a recycling method and system in whichthe inventive packaging method and system are used.

FIG. 1 shows a user recycling waste, according to an example embodimentof a waste recycling process 100. First, a user accesses online orderingand places an order for various types of empty containers 102. The emptycontainers 400 (shown in FIG. 4) include one or more of the exampleembodiments of the method and system for packaging that is furtherdetailed below. The method and system of packaging includes containers400 (shown in FIG. 4) that are specially designed or adapted to hold atleast one kind of waste. (Various kinds of waste are illustrated in FIG.3.) One example container is a box that can safely accommodate4-foot-fluorescent tubes. Another example container 600 is a heavy duty,locking-lid bucket with handles for recycling mercury-containingproducts such as batteries or thermostats. The order may be placed overa network, such as the Internet or by phone or fax. Alternatively, theorder may be part of an automatic reorder program. These containers arethen shipped to the user 104, who puts waste, such as fluorescent lampsinto the containers 106. The filled waste containers are picked up byone or more shippers and taken to waste recycling facilities 108. Afterthe waste is recycled at the recycling facilities 110, proof ofrecycling is available to the user 112.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram giving an overview 200 of an exampleembodiment of a waste recycling system, corresponding to the wasterecycling process 100, illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the basiccommunication between the user 202 and the waste recycling system 204 tocarry out the process 100 of FIG. 1. A waste recycling process describeshow it is done, while a waste recycling system describes what is doingit. In FIG. 1, when the user places an order for various types of emptywaste containers 102, the order is communicated from the user 202 to thewaste recycling system 204, as shown in FIG. 2. When, in FIG. 1, thesecontainers are shipped to the user 104, the waste recycling system 204arranges the shipping for the user 202. When the user fills thecontainers 106 and returns them 108, they are returned to the wasterecycling system 204 from the user 202. When recycling is complete 110,proof of recycling 112 is communicated from the waste recycling system204 to the user 202. The assignee of this patent also has a patentapplication (U.S. Ser. No. 09/821,947) that further details differentexample embodiments and systems for recycling, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

As mentioned above, the packaging system and method discussed herein isuseful both in recycling spent products as well as original shippingcontainers. The containers can also be used to store a product orproducts before or after shipping the containers. In one embodiment ofthe invention, it is contemplated that originally manufactured productscould be removed from an original shipping container as they are used.Once the original shipping container is empty, spent products could beplaced or stored in the shipping container and returned for recycling.With respect to the original shipping containers that are reused, theuser would not have to place an order for various types of empty wastecontainers 102, have the order communicated from the user 202 to thewaste recycling system 204.

FIG. 3 shows examples of products that may be shipped or stored as newproducts or that may be shipped for the purpose of recycling and thatuse the system and method for packaging. In various embodiments, themethod and system for packaging may be used to ship or store differentkinds of products 300, such as lamps 302, batteries 304, lightingballasts 306, computers 308, printers 310, televisions 312, electricalequipment 314, thermostats 316, thermometers 318, relays 320, switches322, or other products containing mercury 324. The system and method ofpackaging may also be used to ship mercury in its elemental form. Someadditional mercury containing products are manometers, dental amalgams,mercury spill kits, calcium phosphate, ignitron tubes, telephoneswitches, rectifiers, activated carbon, and mercury contaminated soil.These products and similar mercury containing products or waste will betermed as a mercury device. The packaging system and method may also beused to ship other products or recyclable waste 326 other than mercurydevices. Of course, the products and wastes that can be shipped aresubject to various laws and regulations in various jurisdictions. Theselaws and regulations may also change over time so some of the productsthat currently are designated as not shippable may be designated asshippable in the future. Some laws or regulations require certain typesof containers for amounts by weight of a material. The shipping andstorage container and systems and methods for packaging described hereinare not meant to supplant laws or regulations related to shippingproducts but can be used to ship products within the parameters of thelaws and regulations in a jurisdiction.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for packaging 400, accordingto an example embodiment of the invention. The system for packaging 400can be used to ship or store products, such as mercury containingproducts. The system for packaging includes a container 410 thatincludes a vapor resistant barrier 420. A vapor resistant barrier has anO₂ transmission rate in the range of 0.0003 to 70 cc/100 in²/24 hrs. Insome embodiments of the invention, the vapor resistant barrier has an O₂transmission rate in the range of 0.000 to 35 cc/100 in²/24 hrs. Thevapor resistant barrier 420 can be any sort of vapor resistant barrierand the container can be any type of container 410. The container 410has an open end 412 which can be sealed. Sealing can be accomplished byany means, including folding the portion of the container 410 proximatethe open end 412. The folded portion of the container 410 may beretained with an object that contacts the folded portion, or may beretained with an adhesive, such as various types of tape. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the end can be provided with a fastener forfastening one side of the container to another side of the container.One type of fastener includes a channel and channel-locking member thatis pressed to engage the channel with the channel locking member andform a seal. This is commonly referred to as zipping the container to asealed position. In some embodiments, a zipper element is moved in thechannel and the channel-locking member. The zipper element can be movedbetween a sealed position and an unsealed position. In one exampleembodiment, the container 410 includes a bag that has a vapor resistantbarrier 420. The bag is formed of a foil laminate material that includesa layer of polyethylene plastic and a layer including a foil vaporbarrier. The foil vapor barrier 420 is located on the outer surface ofthe bag. One such bag is available from Poly Lam Products, Corp. ofWilliamsville, N.Y. Another bag maker is Armand Manufacturing Inc. ofHenderson, Nev. The bags are made from stock that is obtained formLudlow Coated Products, Inc. of Columbus, Ga., USA as MIL-PRDF-131JClass 1 type material. Ludlow Coated Products refers to the material asFoil-O-Rad 2175-B. The stock material for the bag is also available fromCadillac Products Packaging Company of Troy, Mich. as MIL-PRDF-131J,Type 1, Class 1 material. Cadillac Products refers to the material asCAD PAK N. The bag is dimensioned to enclose a mercury device or aplurality of mercury devices.

It should be noted that other bags also include vapor resistant barriers410. The other bags are formed of material include vapor resistantbarrier made of products such as polyester, mylar, or nylon. The vaporresistant bags, when used as part of the apparatus described herein andaccording to methods set forth herein, keep mercury levels belowspecified limits of 0.1 mg/meter³ eight hour time weighted averagemercury permissible exposure limit.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example embodiment of the packaging method500 using the packaging system 400 shown in FIG. 4. The packaging method500 includes placing a mercury device in a container, as depicted byreference 510 and sealing the open end of the container, as depicted byreference numeral 512. Sealing the open end of the container can includefolding the open end of the container and then placing an object overthe folded end to retain the folded end in position, or can includefolding the open end of the container and placing an adhesive such as atape product over the fold. Sealing the open end can also includebonding one side of the open end to the other side of the open end usingan adhesive or a tape or thermally bonding the material of the area nearthe open end to one another. In other embodiments, sealing the open end512 can include engaging a channel with a mating pertruperence, such asclosing a zip lock type enclosure. In some embodiments of the inventionthe container with the mercury devices therein is then shipped, asdepicted by reference 514. The packaging method 500 can be used to shipor store products.

FIG. 6A and 6B are isometric views of a system for packaging, accordingto another example embodiment. Many of the elements shown in FIG. 6A arethe same as those shown in FIG. 6B. Accordingly, similar or sameelements carry the same reference numbers in FIG. 6A and 6B. The systemfor packaging 600 can be used to ship or store products, such as mercurycontaining products. The packaging system 600 includes the container 410having an open end 412. The container 410 also includes a vaporresistant barrier 420. In one embodiment of the invention the container410 and the vapor resistant material 420 are made of a laminate ofpolyethylene in foil that is available from Ludlow Products or CadillacProducts. In other embodiments of the invention a mylar/polyester can beused to form the container 410 and the vapor barrier 420. The container410 can be any sort of material including a plastic such aspolyethylene, paper, or the like. The vapor barrier generally has atransmission rate of O₂ in the range of 0.0003 to 70 cc/100 in²/24 hrs.It should be noted that the container 410 can be formed in any type ofshape as needed or desired. The packaging system 600 further includes asecond container 630. As shown in FIG. 6A the second container 630 is ahard-sided, plastic bucket. The second container 630 also includes alockable lid 632 as shown in FIG. 6A. It should be noted that the secondcontainer 630 is not limited to a plastic bucket but could also be steeldrum, trash can, dumpster, rolloff or the like. The first container 410and specifically the open end 412 are not provided with any type offeature, such as a feature for sealing the open end of the firstcontainer 410. The shipping system 600 can be used for originallymanufactured devices or to recycle spent devices. In one embodiment ofthe invention, originally manufactured devices are shipped using thepackaging system 600. The originally manufactured devices are put to useor sold or set out for sale. Devices that need to be recycled can thenbe placed into the shipping system 600 for return to a recycling centeror to the original manufacturer.

FIG. 6B shows another embodiment of a packaging system 602. The systemfor packaging 602 can be used to ship or store products, such as mercurycontaining products. The packaging system 602 includes the firstcontainer 610 having a vapor resistant film 620. The container 610 alsoincludes a zippered end or a sealable end. The packaging system 602 alsoincludes a second container 630 and a lockable lid 632. It should benoted that container 410 (shown in FIG. 6A) might have differentdimensions than the container 610 shown in FIG. 6B. Although thecontainer 410 and the container 610 each fit within a second container630 there may be a need for more or less material when providing azippered end or sealable end on the container, such as the container 610shown in FIG. 6B. Again the container 610 is also provided with a vaporresistant barrier 620 having a rate of O₂ flow in the range of 0.0003 to70cc/100 in²/24 hrs. A vapor resistant barrier can be foil attached topolyethylene as a laminate, a laminate of polyester and mylar or thelike. In addition, a vapor resistant barrier 620 can be provided onpolyethylene or plastic such as a plastic bag, paper, such as a sack,cardboard or any other container. Simply put, the container 410, 610 isnot limited to any particular material and can be a plastic, such aspolyethylene, paper, or cardboard or the like. It is also contemplatedthat the container 410, 610 could also be another hard-sided bucket madeof any of a number of materials.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method 700 of packing which employs thepackaging systems 600, 602 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The method 700includes placing a first container within a second container 710. Asdiscussed above, the first container includes a vapor resistantmaterial. A mercury-containing device or devices are placed in the firstcontainer, as depicted by reference numeral 712. The mercury device canbe any type of device. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B the mercury device isa battery or plurality of batteries. The mercury device can be placed inthe first containers 712 as a packaging method for originally packagingthe products or as a packaging method for recycling spent mercurydevices. Once the mercury devices are placed within the first container610, 410, the open end of 412, 612 of the container 410, 610,respectively, is sealed. The open end 612 of the container 610 is sealedusing a sealing device that is provided at the open end 612, in the caseof the container 610. When the container 410 has a open end 412, sealingcan include folding or rolling the open end, placing the folded end ofthe container 410 on top of the unfolded or unrolled portion of thecontainer 410 and placing the lockable lid 632 onto the second container630 to retain the folded end in place. In other words sealing does notnecessarily mean a sealant or adhesive has to be used. In an alternativeexample embodiment, sealing can include providing an adhesive at theopen end, clamping the open end or a folded open end or taping the openend 412 shut. Tape can also be used to retain a folded open end of acontainer 410. Once the open end is sealed, the second container issealed as depicted by reference numeral 716. Again the method 700 can beused either to return spent mercury devices to a selected location forrecycling or can be used to package originally manufactured equipmentfor shipping to a store for resale or shipping to an end user. In someembodiments of the invention, the packaging systems 600, 602 can be usedto ship out newly manufactured or originally manufactured equipment,emptied and then used to return or deliver spent mercury devices to arecycling center or back to the original manufacturer for recycling. Thepackaging method 700 can be used to ship or store products.

Yet another example embodiment of a packaging system used to ship orstore products, such as mercury containing products or hazardousmaterial, a pallet and a zippered or sealable enclosure of sufficientsize to enclose the mercury containing products or hazardous material onthe pallet. Hazardous material includes hazardous products or hazardouswaste. In some example embodiments, the zippered or sealable enclosureis a bag. The zippered or sealable enclosure is provided with the vaporresistant layer. The zippered or sealable enclosure is placed on thepallet. Mercury containing products or hazardous material is then placedon the pallet. Once the mercury containing material or the hazardousmaterial is placed on the pallet, the zippered or sealable enclosure ispositioned around the mercury containing material or the hazardousmaterial. The zippered or sealable enclosure is then sealed. In thisway, the mercury containing material or hazardous material placed on thepallet is sealed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a packaging method 900using the packaging system discussed above. The system for packaging 900can be used to ship or store products, such as mercury containingproducts. The packaging method 900 includes placing a sealable enclosureon a pallet 908 and then placing mercury devices on the pallet withinthe sealable enclosure, as depicted by reference 910. Mercury devicesthat are placed on the pallet may be devices that are already incontainers or larger separate independent devices. The sealableenclosure is then sealed as depicted by reference number 912. Thesealable enclosure includes a vapor resistant barrier. The packagingmethod 900 can be used to ship or store products.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a system 1000 for packaging, accordingto an example embodiment. The system for packaging 1000 can be used toship or store products, such as mercury containing products. Thepackaging system 1000 includes a first container 410 having a vaporresistant barrier 420 and having an open end 412. The vapor resistantbarrier has an O₂ transmission rate in the range of 0.0003 to 70 cc/100in²/24 hrs. In some embodiments of the invention, the vapor resistantbarrier has an O₂ transmission rate in the range of 0.0004 to 35 cc/100in²/24 hrs. The vapor resistant barrier can be any sort of vaporresistant barrier and the container can be any type of container. Thecontainer has an open end 412 which can be sealed as mentionedpreviously sealing can be accomplished by any means such as merelyfolding the container near the open end 412 and retaining the folded endin the folded position. The container may also take any form. Thecontainer 410 may be a plastic like material, a paper like material, andmay be flexible or inflexible. In one example embodiment, the container410 includes a bag that has a vapor resistant barrier 420. The bag isformed of a foil laminate material that includes a layer of polyethyleneplastic and a layer of foil vapor barrier. The foil vapor barrier 420 islocated on the outer surface of the container 410. One such bag isavailable from PolyLam Products of a Williamsville, N.Y. Another bagmaker is Armand Manufacturing Inc. of Henderson, Nev. The bag is madefrom stock that is obtained from Ludlow Coated Products, Inc. ofColumbus, Ga., U.S.A. as MIL-PRDF-131J class 1 material. Ludlow CoatedProducts refers to the material as foil-O-Rad 2175-B. The stock materialis also available from Cadillac Products as MIL-PRDF-131J, type 1, class1 material. Cadillac Products refers to the material as CADPAC-N.

Although the bag is shown as loosely fitting around a second container1010 it should be noted that the first container or bag 410 can beformed or dimensioned to closely fit about the container 1010. In oneembodiment of the invention a closed end 414 of the container 410includes gussets so that it fits more closely around a squarerectangular end of the container 1010. The container 1010 fits withinthe container 410. The container 1010, as shown in FIG. 10, is acorrugated box that receives one or more fluorescent lamps such asfluorescent lamps 1060, 1062. The box 1010 is made of a single layer ofcorrugated cardboard. In some instances a fluorescent lamp 1060, 1062may break during shipment. The corrugated cardboard of the secondcontainer 1010 prevents glass material from a broken lamp 1060, 1062from puncturing or cutting or otherwise forming an opening which willallow vapor to escape from the first container 410. The second container1010 does not necessarily have to be made of corrugated material it canbe made of any type of material which will tend to prevent or reduce thepossibility of a mercury device, such as fluorescent lamps 1060, 1062,from puncturing or otherwise causing an opening in the container 410that includes the vapor resistant layer 420.

The box 1010 includes a set of flaps at each end 1012, 1014 of the box.The flaps allow the box to be formed on site. In other words, the box1010 can be shipped flat so as to save on space and then formed at thesite where it will be loaded either with original lamps or spentfluorescent lamps 1060, 1062. Each end of the box or second container1010 is sealed. At least one end, such as end 1012 is sealed after thesecond container 1010 is loaded or filled with mercury devices such asfluorescent lamps 1060, 1062. The box or second container 1010 can be ofany size for holding various mercury devices. For example in oneembodiment the box is sized so as to fit approximately 146 t-8 4 footlamps. In another embodiment the box is sized to fit approximately 46t-8 8 foot lamps. After the mercury devices, such as fluorescent lamps1060, 1062 are placed in the box the open end 1012 is closed and sealed.The open end of the first container 410 that includes the vapor barrier420 is then sealed by any of the means or in any fashion as discussedabove.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a packaging method1100 using the packaging system 1000 shown in FIG. 10. The packagingmethod 1100 includes forming a box or second container, as depicted byreference number 1110. One open end of the container is then sealed asdepicted by reference numeral 1112. The box or second container is thenplaced within the first container as depicted by reference numeral 1114.The box or second container is then loaded with mercury devices asdepicted by reference numeral 1116. Mercury devices can include any typeof mercury device but as shown in FIG. 10 the mercury devices arefluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury. After the secondcontainer is loaded with mercury devices, the open end of the box issealed as depicted by reference numeral 1118 and the first container isthen sealed as depicted by reference numeral 1120. The packaging method1100 can be used to ship or store products.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a packaging system 1200 according toan example embodiment of the invention. The system for packaging 1200can be used to ship or store products, such as mercury containingproducts. The packaging system 1200 includes the first container 410having a vapor resistant barrier 420. The first container 410 includesan open end 412 and a closed end 414. The packaging system 1200 alsoincludes a second container 1010 that has an open end 1012 and a closedend 1014. The second container 1010 is positioned within the firstcontainer 410. Mercury devices such as fluorescent lamps 1060, 1062 arepositioned within the second container 1010. The first container 410 andthe second container 1010 fit within a third container 1210. The thirdcontainer includes an open end 1212 and a closed end 1214. Each of theopen end 1212 and the closed end 1214 are sealable. The dimensions ofthe third container 1210 can be of any of dimension however in oneparticular embodiment the third container 1210 has dimensions that areclose enough to the second container 1010 so that the first container410 may be pinched or fit without moving the first container 410. Inother words, there is a clearance between the first container 1010 and asecond container 1210 that is sufficient to allow relatively littlemovement of the first container 410 with respect to either the secondcontainer 1010 or the third container 1210.

In one example embodiment, the third container is formed of a singlelayer of corrugated materials, such as cardboard. The open end 1212includes a set of flaps so that the open end 1212 may be closed. Theclosed end 1214 also includes flaps. In one example embodiment, thesecond container 1010 fits with an adequate clearance within the thirdcontainer 1210 so that the first container 410 is pinched orsubstantially immobilized. The result is a double walled containerhaving a vapor barrier between a first and a second wall. In thealternative one can think of having a first corrugated box 1010 within asecond corrugated box 1210 with a vapor barrier between the box 1010 andthe box 1210. The box 1010 can be thought of as an inner box while thebox 1210 can be thought of as an outer box. The box 1010 substantiallyprevents or inhibits waste materials or mercury devices from forming anopening in the container 410 having the vapor resistant barrier 420while the outer box 1210 substantially prevents other outside elementsfrom breaking the vapor barrier 420 of the first container 410. Thecontainer including the vapor barrier substantially lessens the flow ofgas into and out of the container. This reduction in the flow of gas notonly contains various vapors but also is thought to further reduce thebreakage of lamps within the containers. The lamp tubes are vacuumsealed so when a lamp breaks, gas moves to equalize the pressure. Usinga vapor barrier substantially lessens the amount of gas, such as air,moving within the container or moving from outside the container to theinside of the container. Gas movement can break glass so lessening theamount of gas movement also may lessen the amount of breakage of lampswithin the container. In addition, the gas trapped within firstcontainer also may act as a cushion. The cushioning effect of thetrapped gas may further reduce breakage of lamps within the firstcontainer 410.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a packaging method1300 using the packaging system 1200 shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG.13 the initial step is to form the inner package 1010 and specificallyto form the closed end 1014 of the inner package 1010 by securely tapingand sealing all of the edges of a designated end of the inner box or box1010. Next the inner box or second container 1010 is fit within or slidinto the first container 410 that includes the vapor barrier 420, asdepicted by the illustration found having the reference numeral 1312.The outer box or container 1210 and specifically the closed end 1212 ofthe outer box is formed by securely taping and sealing all edges of oneend of the outer box or third container 1210, as depicted by referencenumeral 1314. As depicted by reference numeral 1316 the first and secondcontainer are then slid into the outer box or third container 1210. Thefirst container 410, inner box or second container 1010, and outer boxor third container 1210 can each or all be kept closed during storage.As depicted by reference numeral 1318 mercury devices such as lamps areplaced into and fill the inner box. Once the inner box or secondcontainer 1010 is full all of the edges of the inner box andspecifically the open end 1012 of the inner box are sealed. The firstcontainer 410 and specifically the open end 412 of the first container410 are also sealed, as depicted by reference numeral 1320. Once theinner box or second container 1010 as well as the first container 410are sealed the open end 1212 of the outer box or third container is thensealed, as depicted by reference numeral 1322. This is merely oneembodiment of the method 1300 for using the packaging system 1200 shownin FIG. 12. The packaging method 1300 can be used to ship or storeproducts.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method 1400 that includes packagingmercury with a vapor resistant material 1410, and storing the mercury ata selected location 1420. Packaging mercury with a vapor resistantmaterial 1410 includes packaging elemental mercury, packaging a wastematerial including mercury, packaging a product including mercury,packaging a waste product including mercury, or the like. Packagingmercury with a vapor resistant material 1410 includes packaging mercuryin a bag that includes vapor resistant material, packaging mercury in awrap that includes vapor resistant material, lining a container with avapor resistant material, or the like. It should be understood thatthere is no limitation on the size of the container. It should also bepointed out that the method 1400 can be used for shipping or storing ofmaterials or for a combination of shipping and storing of materials. Forexample, the container could be as large as a dumpster or wasteroll-off, or could be as small as a container for shipping new batteriesor lamps.

It should be noted when looking at both FIGS. 12 and 13 that any one ofthe first container 410, second container 1010 and third container 1210can be provided with a vapor resistant barrier. For example, a vaporresistant barrier could be placed on the inside of the third container1210 or outer box, and the vapor barrier could be provided on either theinside or the outside of the inner box or second container 1010. Asshown the first container 410 includes a vapor resistant barrier. Thematerial used to form the vapor barrier is the same type of stockmaterial as discussed above.

It is to be understood that the above description it is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will beapparent to those skilled in the art, upon reviewing the abovedescription. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determinedwith reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tospecific example embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosed subjectmatter. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regardedin an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1-50. (canceled)
 51. A layered containment system comprising: a firstcontainer having a vapor resistant and flexible film laminated with afoil layer and having a seal, the first container having an insideregion and configured to reduce a flow of gas from the inside region;and a hard-sided container having a wall configured to protect the foillayer from puncturing from within the inside region or to protect thefoil layer from damage by an outside element, the hard-sided containerhaving a closable end including at least one of a lid or a flap, theinside region configured to receive a device including a potentialsource of mercury vapors.
 52. The system of claim 51 wherein the firstcontainer is within the hard-sided container.
 53. The system of claim 51wherein the hard-sided container includes at least one of a box, abucket, a drum, a can, a dumpster, or a rolloff.
 54. The system of claim51 wherein the first container has an oxygen transmission rate of lessthan 70 cc/100 in²/24 hours.
 55. The system of claim 51 wherein thefirst container includes at least one of polyester, mylar, or nylon. 56.The system of claim 51 wherein the flexible film includes at least oneof plastic, paper, or cardboard.
 57. The system of claim 51 wherein thefoil layer is disposed on an outer surface of the flexible film.
 58. Acontainment system comprising: a vapor resistant container for receivingcontents including a hazardous material, the container including aflexible film having a foil laminate; a seal for the vapor resistantcontainer; and an outer container having a cardboard wall and a formedend flap, the outer container having a first flat configuration in whichthe end flap is unsealed and having a second configuration in which theouter container is adapted to receive the vapor resistant container, theseal, and the contents of the vapor resistant container, and in whichthe end flap is folded and secured; and wherein the vapor resistantcontainer and the seal are configured to have an O₂ transmission rate ofless than 70 cc/100 in²/24 hours.
 59. The containment system of claim 58wherein the vapor resistant container has an O₂ transmission rate ofless than 10 cc/100 in²/24 hrs.
 60. The containment system of claim 58wherein the vapor resistant container includes a bag and wherein theflexible film includes poly.
 61. The containment system of claim 58wherein the vapor resistant container includes a bag having gussets. 62.The containment system of claim 58 wherein the seal includes a channel.63. The containment system of claim 58 further including an innercontainer configured for placement within the vapor resistant container.64. The containment system of claim 63 wherein the vapor resistantcontainer includes a bag, the inner container including a material toprevent puncturing of the vapor resistant container.
 65. The containmentsystem of claim 64 wherein the inner container substantially preventsrelative motion between a device within the inner container and the bag.66. A method for recycling mercury comprising: placing a mercurycontaining device within a layered containment system, the layeredcontainment system including a plurality of layers including at least aflexible film, a foil layer, and a hard-sided wall container; forming aseal on an opening of the layered containment system, the sealconfigured to have an O₂ transmission rate of less than 70 cc/100 in²/24hours, and at least one of storing or shipping the mercury containingdevice.
 67. The method of claim 66 wherein forming the seal includesfolding an open end of a bag, the bag including the flexible film. 68.The method of claim 67 wherein forming the seal includes clipping theopen end of the bag.
 69. The method of claim 67 wherein forming the sealincludes adhering the open end of the bag.
 70. The method of claim 67wherein forming the seal includes zipping the open end of the bag.